Vehicle lamp



N. C. MADSEN VEHICLE LAMP Oct. 9, 1934.

Filed Nov. 30, 1932 Patented d. 9, 1934 FCE ' VEHICLE LAMP Niels Christian Madsemvidebaek, Denmark Application November 30, 1932, Serial No. 645,051 In Great Britain October 31, 1932 Claims.

This invention relates to a vehicle lamp of the kind wherein the light source is controlled by a pendulum adapted to maintain the light beam at the correct angle relative to the road when the vehicle is longitudinally tilted owing to heavy rear load, and the invention consists in mounting the pendulum on a shaft which is held in a pair of plates connected to the back o the lamp relector and which is provided with an arm adapted to engage in a slot in a bracket connected to the lamp holder, the latter being pivotally held between the plates.

Fig. l of the accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of a lamp according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a rear view partly in section of a modiiied controlling mechanism, and

Figs. 3 and e are different sections taken at right angles to Fig. 2.

In the illustrated arrangement the reflector b is connected as usual to the lamp casing a, sumcient space being left between the two for the accommodation of a mechanism comprising two parallel vertical plates c connected to the back of the reiiector, a sleeve d situated between the plates and supported therein by trunnions e, and a shaft j which is rotatably held in the plates. The sleeve d has a telescopic extension m which projects through a slit r in the reflector and which is adapted to receive the lamp bulb n. The focussing of the bulb lament o relative to the reector is eiected on the one hand by a longitudinal adjustment of the sleeve extension m and on the other hand by the adjustment of a screw s which is fitted in a bracket t under the sleeve d and forms an abutment for the latter. The sleeve portion d is split and tted with a clamp screw f whereby the extension m can be secured in adjusted position. Suspended from the shaft i is a fr ,pendulum c tted with a bob 1. An arm h on the shaft y engages in a slot in the bracket g secured to the sleeve d. The ilexible lamp wire q enters the sleeve d through a plug p and enables the sleeve to be deected about its trunnions by the pendulum.

Normally the filament o remains in the focus of the reflector. lf the position of the filament were maintained while the car is tilted by a heavy rear load, the light beam would be raised from the 5G road and have a dazzling eiect on oncoming trame. With the arrangement just described,

however, the pendulum will maintain its vertical position when the vehicle is thus tilted, and the arm h will cause the lament o to be raised relative to the reflector. The light beam will as a Cal (Cl. Z110-62.2)

consequence be deflected relative to the car in a downward direction, and the dazzling eiect will be automatically obviated.

The device may be modified by mounting the mechanism on the lamp casing a instead or on the reflector, in which case the reflector may be adapted to follow the movements of the light source, the filament remaining in the focus of the reflector.

The arm h and the bracket g may be replaced by interengaging toothed sectors.

In order to steady the movements of the pendulum, a retarding device such as a dashpot or a frietionally operating braking spring may be employed.

A retarding device of the dashpot type is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the pendulum 7c, Z being enclosed in a casing u containing oil or the like. The casing u is also iitted with adjustable abutments i for limiting the swinging movements of the pendulum relative to the casing.

Another device for steadying the pendulum and preventing the lamp from being dipped on a sudden stoppage oi the vehicle, is shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This device consists of an additional pendulum o mounted on a shaft w and iitted with an arm .r for co-operation with a lug y secured to the shait j. On a sudden stoppage of -:he vehicle, the resulting forward movement of the weight Z relative to the lamp will have a tendency to dip the light source. This will be prevented by the weight 'u which, as it moves in the same direction, applies the arm x to the lug y and thus prevents the shaft y from moving.

Another weight may be provided for preventing the dipping of the light source on a sudden acceleration of the vehicle, er the weight o may for this purpose be provided with an additional arm ."cl. The arms x, r1 may be provided with abutments in the form of adjustable screws a.

I claim:

l. A vehicle lamp of the character described comprising a reector, a pair ci vertical, parallel plates connected to the back ci the reflector, a sleeve pivoted between said plates and projecting through a slot in the reilector, a light source connected to said sleeve within the reflector, a horizontal shaft held rotatably in said plates, a pendulum sus ended from and secured to said shaft, a bracket projecting from said sleeve, and an arm secured. to said .shaft and engaging in a slot in said bracket for controlling the angular position of the sleeve.

2. The structure claimed in claim l in combination with a casing enclosing the pendulum and 4. The structure claimed in claim 1 in combination with an additional pendulum mounted independently of the shaft, an arm connected to saidA additional pendulum, a lug on the shaft adapted to (zo-operate with said arm for preventing movement of the shaft in case of a sudden change in the rate of travel of the vehicle, and an adjusting screw on the arm arranged to take the thrust of said lug.

5. The structure claimed in claim 1 in combination with an additional pendulum mounted independently `of the shaft, a pair of arms connected to said additional pendulum, and a lug on the shaft engaging between said arms and adapted to co-operate therewith for preventing movement of the shaft in case of a sudden change in the rate of travel of the Vehicle.

NIELS CHRISTIAN MADSEN. 

